UK Center Develops Greener Carpet Tile Adhesive

York, England, March 19, 2010--A new adhesive for use in carpet tiles which has been developed at the University of York could help dramatically reduce their impact on the environment, according to a story in AZoM.com.

The adhesives currently used to bind the layers of carpet tiles together make it challenging to recycle them. In Europe, around 70 million kilograms of carpet tile waste is incinerated or sent to landfills every year.

Researchers in the University of York's Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence have created a new starch-based alternative that allows the layers to be separated and recycled.

Testing has shown that the new adhesive is just as strong as established products, can withstand steam cleaning and is also highly flame retardant.

James Clark, Director of the York Centre said, "The results of our research provide a potential solution to a serious waste problem and also demonstrate in broader terms how end-of-life considerations can be incorporated into product design without sacrificing quality."

A key characteristic of the product developed in York is that its adhesive quality can be switched on or off using a chemical treatment that is inexpensive and does not damage the tile materials.

The research, which is published in the journal Green Chemistry, was conducted in collaboration with the UK-based operation of global carpet tile manufacturer InterfaceFlor.